A few weeks ago my teammate, Jenny, preached a sermon on “a time for everything.” I didn’t realize how quickly it was going to apply to my life.
God seems to have real funny timing when it comes to my life. When He called me to the World Race, I didn’t know, or would have ever guessed, it was for a shorter season than 11 months. The past 7 months have changed my life and I am not the same woman I was in September when I launched out of the Philippines. I would not trade those months or take them back for anything in the world. I have grown in ways I never would have by doing anything else. I have seen first hand how incredibly big God is, and he exploded out of the box I had him in for years. That season of my life was incredible one.
There has been unrest in my heart for about a month now. And it would not go away. It did not matter how much I prayed, cried, or tried to force myself to get over it, it was still there. I did not have that “peace that surpasses all understanding” that only God can give. Part of me thought that I just needed to get out of Africa and it would be better, but once I reached India I realized this was not the case. The more I cried and the more I prayed and wrestled with a decision, the more I realized my season of the World Race was coming to an end.
I do not completely understand why God called me home. When I signed up for this trip I fully intended on going for the full 11 months. I never imagined that God would call me for only 7 months. but it’s not up to me to understand His ways or His timing. It’s only up to me to obey. Whenever I had to preach a sermon, it mostly revolved around how God used the story of Abraham’s obedience to call me on the race. Abraham obeyed when God called him to place he knew nothing about. And that is what God called me to. but I never thought my obedience would be put to test in me going home.
Once I finally understood this is what God was calling me to do, there was no more turmoil in my heart. there was only peace. that peace that comes from the only One who can give true peace. I do not know exactly what this next season holds for me, but then again, not many people ever know exactly what God has in store for them. He always reveals things in His perfect timing, and I know He will always continue to do the same.
So, the World Race chapter of my life is closed. God will continue to use that experience in me for the rest of my life, and the things I learned will stay with me forever. I know that God is going to use everything He taught me there in this next season of my life, whatever it may hold.
Never forget how incredibly big God is. and never limit Him to what you can see. He has amazing things in store for every season of your life, and He will never, ever leave you. His perfect timing, and His perfect peace are the sweetest things in life.
The sun has set on this chapter of my life, and is now rising on the next.
To my teammates, my squadmates, my wonderful squad leaders, and my amazing supporters: I love you all so much and would not be who I am today without all you have poured into me. I am going to miss you so very much. Keep seeking after more of God every day!
